Kachina Dolls

Central to Hopi religion, Kachinas are supernatural beings believed to live on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. Hopi men embody the Kachina spirits during ceremonies that take place between Winter Solstice and mid-July. The Hopis believe these spirits enable them to live in harmony with nature, ensuring rain, crops, fertility, and good hunting. The Hopi men impersonate these kachinas by wearing masks and dancing in the plazas of the villages. The dolls, which are carved replicas of the dancers, are given to the children so that they may learn about their people's traditions. The art of carving kachina dolls has evolved from the old-style blocklike figures into today's highly detailed, all-wood dolls with realistic form and action. Traditional, or Old-Style, Kachina Dolls were simple carvings given to Hopi children to teach them about their culture and the Kachinas that would be visiting during the upcoming ceremony. Over time, Kachina Dolls became more and more sophisticated and included bases for the dolls to stand on and showing the Kachina in “action”- such as dancing or hunting. All Kachina Dolls are carved out of the root of the Cottonwood tree. The Cottonwood tree’s vigorous roots travel far and deep in search of water. There is spiritual importance in this fact, as the Hopis are dry farmers in an arid part of Arizona and the search for water is of critical importance to their culture.

Sizing

Although the best way to test the size and fit of a piece of jewelry is to try it on in the store, we know that is not always an option. In an effort to help you choose the piece that is right for you, we have included measurements of each piece on the website. Here is how our measurements are defined:

Height: This is the total height of the item, including the bale for pendants and the wire for earrings.

Width: The width is the measurement of the item at its widest point.

Necklace Length: This is the measurement from end-to-end of the necklace, not including the pendant (if there is one).

Bracelets

Finding the right size bracelet for your wrist has always been a tricky endeavor, since, unlike rings, there isn't a standardized, universal sizing chart for wrist size. One reason for this is that we all have different shaped wrists, some of us have round wrists, while others have more oval. Bracelets, like wrists, also have different shapes.

So, while bracelet sizing will never be an exact science, we've done what we can to ensure the greatest chance of a comfortable fit. The best thing you can do if you don't know your wrist size is to take a soft measuring tape and loosely measure the circumference of your wrist at the point you plan on wearing it. Try not to have the measuring tape dig into your skin, as this will result in a smaller than ideal size. Once you have the circumference of your wrist, compare it to the chart below to find the correct bracelet size. If your wrist measures in-between two sizes, we recommend rounding up to the larger size. (ie: if your wrist measures 6.375"- you should shop for size "Medium" bracelets.)

Wrist Circumference

Corresponding Bracelet Size

5.5"

5.75"

6"

6.25"

6.5"

6.75" - 7"

7.25"

7.5"

7.75"

8"

You may want to drill down further on the bracelet sizing to make sure the cuff is a comfortable fit. You will notice on our website that we generally list four measurements for bracelets:

Cuff WidthThis first number measures across the cuff at the widest point, which is typically the center. If you are considering a wide cuff (2" or wider), you should consider looking for a bracelet that is slightly larger than what you might normally wear. This is because, like rings, the wider the piece is, the larger it needs to be to fit comfortably. If you have questions about this, please contact us.

Inside MeasurementThis measures the circumference of the bracelet on the inside, from end-to-end, not including the opening. So, this is strictly a measurement of the metal on the inside of the bracelet, not the entire circumference (we don't measure the dimension of the top of the bracelet, as it is the part that touches your skin that is important for size).

Opening SizeThis measurement is the distance between the two ends of the bracelet, in a straight line across. Typically this opening is 1" for most braclets, 1.25" for larger sized bracelets, but can be smaller or larger for extremely small or large bracelets.

Bracelet SizeThis one we kind of made up for our own purposes here in the store, but we've found it very helpful. This measurement is the total inner circumference of the bracelet (the inside measurementplus the bracelet opening). We found it helpful to refer to a name (Small, Medium, Large, etc.) than always using numbers. Refer to the chart above for Bracelet Sizes.

Keep in mind that certain bracelets can be adjusted slightly to fit your wrist, but those with inlay or stones all the way around will be damaged if bent. In any case, it is always best to check with with us to see if a particular bracelet is adjustable.

Lastly, have no fear! If you order a bracelet that doesn't fit, send it back for one that does! We want this to be a positive experience, you should never wear something that isn't 100% comfortable. More on our return policy here.

Buckles

Sizing belt buckles is pretty straightforward. The height and width are self-explanatory, and the belt width describes the maximum belt width the buckle will fit on.

Concha Belts

We try to include the height and width for the conchas, as well as the buckle (if different), and the width of the belt they are on. The length of the concha belts can be less important, because these belts are often made quite long to accommodate many waist sizes, and then can be shortened to fit the wearer. If you are concerned whether or not a belt will fit you, just ask. We are happy to size most of our concha belts before shipping.